The Third Shift

Over half of the workers in food preparation and related occupations are women, most of whom are concentrated in the lowest-paying occupations. Almost 2 million are mothers, 15 percent of employees in the industry. More than half, 1.2 million, are single mothers with children in the household. More than 1 million are single moms with children under age 18. Mothers pay a gender penalty, as well as a motherhood penalty, earning less than males, fathers, and their childless female counterparts.